Air-brake safety device



PATENTED JAN; 19, 1904.

C. TRUMAN.

AIR BRAKE SAFETY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

No. 749,809. I PATENTED JAN. 19, 1904.

G. TRUMAN. AIR BRAKE SAFETY DEVICE.

APPLICATION LLLLLLLLLLLLL 2.

no MODELB 2 s H E E T s s H n n T 2.

UNITED STATES Patented January 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES TRUMAII, OE TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OE ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM G. SMITH, OE TOLEDO, OHIO. I

AIR-BRAKE SAFETY DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 749,809, dated January 19, 1904. A raisal filed July 7,1902. seen No. 114,532. I Io model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES TRUMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Brake Safety Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable Others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In that class of air-brakes in which the brakes of a railway-train are set automatically by the escape of compressed air from an air-reservoir the bursting of the flexible hose used between the cars to connect the air-pipesor a break at any point in the line of air-pipes causes the sudden application of the brakes with maximum forceto the car-wheels, thus arresting the movement of the train with a violent shock. Accidents not infrequently result in this way, especially in freighttrains,where usually only the forward cars in the train are provided with air-brakes, the cars without air-brakes being placed together at the rear of the train. It is obvious that if the forward cars he suddenly stopped or checked the rear cars not being under control will with immense weight and I momentum rush upon the forward part of the train, thereby endangering the persons and;

lives of people upon the train and causing great damage to the cars andtheir contents by throwing them violently over and against one another.

My invention relates to means for overcoming the difficulty here pointed out; and the obthe way of the detached rear portion of the train. y

An important feature of my invention is that I am enabled to utilize the usual anglecock and its casing without cutting or otherwise interfering with the line of air connections, and to thus reduce to a minimum the cost and inconvenience of furnishing my device to cars already supplied with air-brakes.

I attain these objects by means of the devices and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and shown and illustrated in, the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a line of a' pipe, showing the usual section of flexible hose, with the clamp by means of which the hosesection is connected with a like section between cars, together with the angle-cock to which the hose-section is secured; Fig. 2, a central longitudinal vertical sectional elevation of an angle-cock containing my invention;

Fig. 3, a sectional top plan view of the same, taken on line {10 m, Fig. 2; Fig. 4:, a central longitudinal vertical sectional elevation of a modibushing. In the various modifications of my device lllustrated 1n the accompanying drawings I have shown the usual angle-cock w1th receiving the thrust of a coiled spring, which I I holds the valve closely seated in its seat or the bushing just referred to removed and with a substituted larger taper valve, which fills the aperturein the casing designed for y,

the removed bushing.

In thedrawings, 1 is an air-pipe, upon the gle-cock is threaded at one end, as at 4:, for the reception of the threaded end of line airpipe 1,and at its other end the case is threaded, as at 5, for connection with the hose-section 3. The taper plug or valve 6 has therethrough a transverse bore or port 7 which by a quarter axial turn of the plug or valve may be thrown into or out of communication with the pipe and hose. This plug is made hollow by an axial bore leading from its lower larger end toward the upper smaller end and intersecting the transverse port. That end of the port 7 which when the valve is turned in open coupled position is nearest the opening 5 is cupshaped, as at 8, and conforms to and fits and forms a seat for the ball-valve 9. This ball is disposed in the cavity of the hollow plug 6 and rests normally on the washer 10 at the bottom of the plug 6. 11 is a coiled spring interposed between the bottom cap 12 and the washer 10 and serves by its thrust against the washer to hold the plug closely seated, so

that when the valve is closed leaks will be avoided. In Fig. 2 for the usual cap I have substituted a larger cap 12, having a larger cavity, while in Figs. 4 and 5 the caps 12 are the same caps heretofore in use. In the device illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4: the washer 10 has a central circular. opening, the margin of which forms a bearing for the ball and an aperture for the escape of compressed air contained in the cavity of the valve-chamber beneath the washer. In Fig. 5 the washer 10 is imperforate, having merely a central depression forming an enlarged bearing-surface for the ball. Through the wall of the hollow plug and directly beneath and in line with the transverse bore 7 is a small aperture 13, the mouth of which is opened and closed by the turning of the plug.

The operation of my device is as follows: Assuming that the parts are assembled as indicated, that the line of air-pipe of the several cars of the train are connected in the usual manner with the angle-cock provided with my invention at each end of each of the cars, and that the brakes are held off by the compressed airin the pipes and reservoirs in the ordinary way, now if by any accident the train be broken intwo or if from any cause the line be broken the sudden and rapid escape of the compressed air will cause further escape of air through this channel. It

is found by actual test with each of the forms shown in my drawings that a line under the usual working pressure will show by the pressure-gage that my valve permits a drop of less than one pound in pressure when-the line is suddenly thrown wide open. After the ball-valve is seated the compressed air now escapes slowly through the contracted vent 13, bringing the separated parts of the train to a gradual stop and giving the engineer time to manage that part of the train which remains under his control, according to the requirements of the emergency. Under the ordinary workings of the air-brakes the expansion of the air beneath the ball-valve is not quick enough to seat the valve, and hence does not interfere with the brakes when working under normal conditions. Even the emergency application of the brakes by the engineer will not seat the ball-valve, as its size and weight are such that the line must be thrown wide open to secure the action of the Valve.

Since the angle-cock at each end of the car is provided with my device, it is clear that the valve nearest the break in the line will be thrown into operation, thus preventing the undue escape of air in either direction.

While I have shown my invention as a part of an angle-cock for economical reasons, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention to this form of construction, for obviously the same mechanical result may be attained by disposing my valve, valve-chamber, and valve-seats at places in the line other than in the angle-cock.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

In an air-brake safety device, an air-conduit, an angle-cock connected therewith, a hollow plug in the cock having a passage therethrough adapted to be thrownv into and out of coincidence with the conduit, a ball-valve in the hollow of the plug, a seat for the ball and means for permitting the retarded passage of air around said valve when in closed position,

the arrangement being such that the ball-valve is automatically seated and the conduit closed by the escape of air from said conduit.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES TRUMAN.

Witnesses:

CHAS. E. CHITTENDEN, STELLA DORLAND. 

